---
id: CVE-2020-1140
title: >-
  An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when DirectX improperly handles
  objects in memory
summary: >-
  An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when DirectX improperly handles
  objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability
  could run arbitrary code in kernel mode. An attacker could then install
  programs;…
severity: high
cvss: 7.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
vendor: microsoft
product: windows_10
affected:
  - windows_10 = 1809
  - windows_10 = 1903
  - windows_10 = 1909
  - windows_server_2016 = 1903
  - windows_server_2016 = 1909
  - windows_server_2019
published: '2020-05-21'
updated: '2026-08-19'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1140'
references:
  - url: 'https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2020-1140'
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: >-
      https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-1140
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
tags:
  - nvd
epss: 0.00944
epssPercentile: 0.59377
ingestedAt: '2026-08-19T17:42:39.106Z'
---

## Overview

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when DirectX improperly handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and take control of an affected system.
The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how DirectX handles objects in memory.

## Affected

- `windows_10 = 1809`
- `windows_10 = 1903`
- `windows_10 = 1909`
- `windows_server_2016 = 1903`
- `windows_server_2016 = 1909`
- `windows_server_2019`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.